You might not have the money in the bank right now, but could you sell some other assets to raise the cash? Could you take out a loan and pay it off over time? See our article on Blindspot Analysis for more advice on stepping away from your assumptions. Bold new ideas often arise when you do!

The way you define or frame your problem can limit your creativity. If you describe the issue that you're trying to solve in a different way, or look at it from a different angle, new solutions can emerge. For example, when Uber founder Garrett Camp wanted to start a transport service, he could have focused simply on buying and managing enough vehicles to make a profit.

Instead, he reframed the problem in terms of how he could best address passengers' needs. This led to the development of a powerful app, rather than a fleet of cars — and an innovative business was born.

If you're finding it difficult to think of a new approach, try turning the problem upside-down! Flip the question and explore the exact opposite of what you want to achieve. This can present you with innovative ways to tackle the real issue. To come up with a new design for your website, for example, think about how you'd create the worst look possible.

Trying to make it boring, frustrating and forgettable may give you some bold ideas for how to do the opposite. You can learn more about this approach in our article on Reverse Brainstorming.

Radical ideas can arise from tackling problems in unusual ways. A great way to do this is to apply different types of creativity — don't just talk or write about your plans, explore them through music, painting, photography, sculpture… whatever enables you to express yourself.

Fresh thinking can emerge when you let your creative juices flow! Interior designers, for example, often create "mood boards" made up of scraps of fabric, dabs of paint, photographs, sketches, typefaces, or even small objects.

This process of visualization can produce original designs that wouldn't have occurred to them otherwise. Another way to generate new ideas is to make new and unexpected connections. Some of the best ideas seem to occur almost by chance — you see or hear something unconnected with the situation you're trying to resolve, and a lightbulb goes on in your head!

For instance, inventor George de Mestral was inspired to invent Velcro® by the burdock burrs that got stuck to his dog's fur during a countryside walk. Try some of the following strategies for forging creative connections:.

See our article on Mind Maps® to discpver another useful technique for making unexpected connections. Finally, you can add extra dynamism to your thinking by taking a step back from your usual standpoint and viewing a problem through "fresh eyes. You'll often get a surprising new take on an issue by talking to someone with a different perspective, maybe because of their age, life experience, or cultural background.

Or, try playing the "If I Were" game. Ask yourself, how would I address this challenge "if I were…? Consider how the person you've chosen would approach the problem, and see if that gives you any new ideas. Identify that person's distinguishing characteristics, and use them to address the challenge.

The entrepreneur, for instance, might take bigger risks, while the athlete would focus on achieving success through intensive training. Our article, The Reframing Matrix , explores another useful method for seeing a problem from a range of different perspectives.

The strategies we've outlined above work best in an atmosphere of positivity and possibility. The following ideas may help you to establish the best conditions for creativity:. Creativity is important in many roles. But sometimes you need especially bold ideas to solve a difficult problem or to move forward in completely new ways.

It's important to remember that anyone can be creative, and that you can improve your ability to generate innovative ideas. The key techniques to do this are:. As well as these techniques, employ "enabling" strategies — such as boosting your confidence, allowing for downtime, and varying your environment — to encourage creativity.

How VELCRO® Brand Fasteners Were Invented [online]. Available here. How Termites Inspired Mick Pearce's Green Buildings [online]. You've accessed 1 of your 2 free resources. Get unlimited access. Video Transcript. Asking Questions, Generating Ideas. Add comment.

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Strategy Tools. Customer Service. Business Ethics and Values. Handling Information and Data. Project Management. Knowledge Management. Self-Development and Goal Setting. Science helps kids learn creative and critical skills when they pose questions, make predictions, speculate, investigate to solve problems, make decisions based on evidence, analyze and evaluate evidence.

While creating art, kids use their imagination, curiosity, and thinking skills to consider possibilities, explore ideas, materials, spaces, and technologies, and take risks to express their thoughts, ideas and feelings.

Critical and creative thinking skills can be developed and strengthened like any other skill. Read on to know-how:. Encourage them to think deep: Ask them critical questions that make them think deeply. Some questions you can ask are:.

Use open-ended questions: Open-ended question encourages the child to think creatively. Examples of open-ended questions:. The more your child reads, the more will they be aware of words, situations, emotions, stories, and characters, and the more will their brains capture information that needs to be carried forward as learning.

Every question your child asks is an opportunity for them to learn and use the information. Don't just answer the questions thrown at you; cross-question your child and get to know their views and opinions about the topic.

Motivate the child to solve problems. This helps establish critical thinking in kids. Solving a problem can help you get an insight into your child's mind in terms of how they think, process information, and react to solve a problem.

Push your child to come out of their comfort zones at an early age. Give them responsibilities like taking care of a pet, folding their clothes, packing their school bag, looking after their younger sibling, etc. These responsibilities will give your child something to think about and act.

Give them scenarios and ask them questions. For example, ask them questions like "what would happen next"- trigger their curiosity and let them make the predictions.

This will help them think deeper. Whether the child is playing a game with friends, or with puzzles, riddles, and board games, it helps them develop and discover certain critical thinking skill sets that might be impossible to learn in theory.

Some important life lessons learned through play are teamwork, leadership, sportsmanship, and creativity. You can include the following games and activities in your child's routine to improve their critical and creative thinking skills:.

Art is an excellent way for kids to express their creative thinking. Let your kids create anything they wish. Guessing games are excellent at building reasoning skills. Some examples are Dumb Charades, Animal Guess Who, etc.

Sorting objects using different attributes like colour, size, shape, geometry, etc. These brain development games a great way to develop your child's pattern recognition, spatial perception, language skills, coordination, motor skills, problem-solving, and cognitive skills.

Some examples of such games are Sudoku, Scrabble, crosswords, Rubik's cubes, and logic puzzles. Memory games make use of three learning methods visual, auditory, and kinesthetic to improve short and long-term memory. Puzzles, verbal and picture memory games, and pantomimes help in improving a child's memory skills.

Pretend play, make-believe, or role-play helps in the child's cognitive and social development. It develops a child's social, language skills, and emotional skills, fuels their imagination, and improves their understanding of the world.

Obstacle courses involve jumping, skipping, crawling, walking, running, and hopping around obstacles like pillows, hula hoops, tables, chairs, cushions, storage boxes, sofa, string, paper, balls, etc. These mind games help enhance your child's critical thinking, visual perception, gross motor, coordination, motor planning,problem-solving, and language skills.

Critical and creative thinking skills are fast becoming essential life skills for success in this technology and information-overloaded world.

PlanetSpark helps develop your child's through our online courses. Our courses are designed for the holistic development of kids, and they include:.

PlanetSpark helps sharpen your child's critical and creative thinking skills and make them more independent and effective learners. Home Curriculum Business Contact For Teachers : Please mail us teachersupport planetspark.

in For Students : Please mail us customersupport planetspark. Join Us Become a Teacher Become an Affiliate Careers. Community Blog Podcasts SparkShop Communication Skill Test SparkTank. Please Provide these Details to receive app download link ×. We're live, check our live streaming now.

Watch Live Class. How to Spark It Mon, 30 Aug, Strategies to Enhance Critical and Creative Thinking Skills in Children. What Is Creative Thinking and How It Helps Children?

Here are some of the types of creative thinking skills that are important for kids: Risk-taking Imagination Elaborating Brainstorming Imagery Artistry Adaptability Open-mindedness. What Is Critical Thinking and Why it is Important for Kids?

Critical Thinking Vs Creative Thinking Critical and creative thinking are inter-related, but they are not the same. English Learning English teaches critical and creative thinking when kids read, listen, interact, write, discuss, imagine possibilities, plan, explore and create ideas.

Maths Maths engages kids in logical reasoning and thinking when trying to find solutions to math problems by devising strategies. Science Science helps kids learn creative and critical skills when they pose questions, make predictions, speculate, investigate to solve problems, make decisions based on evidence, analyze and evaluate evidence.

Art While creating art, kids use their imagination, curiosity, and thinking skills to consider possibilities, explore ideas, materials, spaces, and technologies, and take risks to express their thoughts, ideas and feelings.

Critical Thinking Skills Encourage them to think deep: Ask them critical questions that make them think deeply. Some questions you can ask are: What would happen if it never rained? What would you do for entertainment if there were no video games, smartphones, TVs or tablets?

How would your life be different if you had a sister? Ask five whys: When your child gives an assertive answer, ask "Why" five times. Each time you ask a 'why,' your child will dig a little deeper into the reasoning. As a result, they will think through their answers before answering. Ask them to reason out there thinking: When your child answers your question, ask them to show you how they thought of the answer.

They may draw or write to show the thinking behind their answer. This helps solidify the concept further and emphasize the value of thinking and not whether the thinking is right or wrong.

Try looking at problems from different angles and new perspectives. This can help you come up with creative solutions that you may not have considered otherwise. Take a selection of real, fictional, famous, imaginary people — whoever you want — and try to imagine how they would approach the problem.

Could that approach work for you? If not, might it work with some modifications? Try creative skills such as drawing, painting, writing, or playing music. These activities can help stimulate your creativity and encourage you to think outside the box.

They also allow your mind to leave the space of the problem at hand and to relax. This is often when original ideas spring forth! Working with other people can help you generate fresh ideas and different perspectives.

Collaborating with people who have different backgrounds and experiences from you can be particularly helpful. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs and startups of recent years have come about when two or more people from very different industries have collaborated.

Give it a try! The more you learn about a wide range of subjects, the more connections you can make between seemingly unrelated ideas. Expose yourself to different ideas and cultures by reading, watching, and listening to different sources of information, on all sorts of topics.

This can help you expand your thinking and gain new insights, which can in turn help you find new solutions to problems. Often, taking a break from a problem can help you come up with new ideas.

Taking a walk is one of the best ways to relax and to allow your mind to subconsciously piece together parts of a puzzle — meaning that a solution will sometimes present itself seemingly out of nowhere!

Coming up with creative ideas and putting them into practice involves being flexible and having a sense of open-mindedness.

Be open to changing your approach if necessary. Remember, creative thinking is a skill that can be developed and improved with practice. By incorporating some or all of these approaches into your routine, you can improve your creative thinking skills, get your creative juices flowing and come up with more innovative solutions.

Whether you are looking to start a small business, want to launch a new product, or have a new project or challenge in your personal or home life that needs a clever solution, taking a tip from the toolbox will help to get you started on a more creative path. These blogs below contain lots of inspiration and advice around on creating interactive and original content — with ThingLink and other platforms.

Take a look:. Escape rooms sometimes called breakout rooms have New webinar! Regardless of subject, presenting your data and findings in an engaging and understandable way can be a challenge!

Fortunately, ThingLink provides you with the They manufacture compressed ThingLink was honored to be named as Top Extended Reality XR Firm at the European Metaverse Awards. A record top companies were short-listed as finalists in Creating an online course or module is now easier than ever using Scenario Builder templates In the world of elearning and corporate training, creating engaging Unlock the Secrets to Crafting Mesmerizing ° Visuals for a Game-Changing Learning Experience!

In this blog we New Webinar! Masterclass in Crafting Immersive Branching Learning Experiences with ThingLink Scenario Builder In the world of eLearning, branching scenarios have In addition to using interactive media and virtual reality to create your teaching materials, why not also give your students the tools and technology to become Over the last few years, teachers and other educators have successfully transitioned their classrooms, lecture halls and labs to the cloud, set up digital learning Unleash imagination to design unique environments inspired by literature, mythology, historical periods, and more.

ThingLink, an award-winning immersive learning technology platform is announcing a strategic partnership with Blockade Labs, creators of Skybox AI, an innovative On-Demand Webinar on Advanced Features of ThingLink!

Master ThingLink: Advanced Techniques for Crafting Next-Level Immersive Experiences The future of learning This article provides an overview of integrating ThingLink into Canvas courses using the Learning Tools Interoperability LTI 1. This integration allows This article provides an overview of integrating ThingLink into Moodle courses using the Learning Tools Interoperability LTI 1.

Learning Tools Interoperability LTI is a widely-adopted industry standard in the fields of education and corporate learning and development. It was developed Virtual training and elearning has undoubtedly revolutionized the delivery of corporate training and learning. It offers both employees and employers the benefits Our webinar for US Educators with Special Guest Host Tom Mullaney.

It was absolutely fabulous! Dive Deep into the World of Immersive and Interactive Learning with Dive into a universe of detail with Pano to no more multiple shots, just easy, fully immersive photospheres!

Since Google decided to retire the beloved Ever since Google discontinued its much-loved Street View Camera App, users around the world have been searching for a worthy alternative. The good news? Your search Virtual field trips are an ideal way to immerse learners in real world environments without ever leaving the classroom, lab or lecture theatre.

There are a number Virtual tours are now one of the cornerstones of real estate marketing, giving potential buyers the opportunity to view a property at a convenient time and place ThingLink Launches a Revolutionary Solution for Capturing Images In light of the discontinuation of the Google Street View Camera app, ThingLink has answered These versatile squares offer endless opportunities for creativity and engagement.

In this ThingLink has been a leader in learning technologies, consistently seeking innovative ways to stay ahead of the curve.

Not only are we bringing you new ways to In , we have already seen significant developments that will continue to transform teaching, learning, education technology and the education industry as we Unlimited seats on this plan mean that everyone in your school or organization can have access to our much-loved multimedia editor and ThingLink Scenario Builder An effective marketing communications strategy is crucial for the success of any company, of any size.

But for a small business or start up with no marketing team Learners can create truly extraordinary content when they use and combine the latest AI tools for image generation.

In this case study we demonstrate and celebrate In all areas of education, learning and training, online learning is expected to continue evolving and growing, following its fast expansion over the early part Virtual tours have become an integral part of the real estate industry, allowing potential buyers to explore properties from the comfort of their homes — Educator Stephanie Woessner helped 17 schools in Ukraine to create an interactive ThingLink map together online.

ThingLink spoke to her to hear how it was created, As pioneers of mixed reality experiences In this blog we look at what digital storytelling is, how it is being used, and provide three great examples of how ThingLink has been used for storytelling projects In this blog we look at how you can use interactive videos — either as a training or educational tool for your learners, or for marketing or ecommerce purposes Infographics are a great way to present complex information in a clear and concise way.

They are used for data visualization across every sector and can package Virtual escape rooms are a great way to engage K students in learning, and offer a unique and interactive learning experience.

Just like physical escape rooms, All organizations should incorporate some form of learning and development into their workplace. But what exactly is meant by workplace learning and development, Of all the changes that the arrival of the Covid pandemic brought about or accelerated, one that is here to stay is the growth and development of online learning In this short blog we look at how storytelling has developed from its earliest forms to the ultra-short form content that we interact with, multiple times per day, What is Project Based Learning?

Project-based learning PBL is an educational approach that has been gaining popularity in recent years. This approach involves What is Immersive Learning? Immersive learning is a modern approach to education and training that aims to create a fully-engaging and experiential environment Today, ThingLink announces a new product: Guided Tours.

Here is a quick summary of what it is, why we built it, and how it can help instructors and learners to What is Employee Leadership Training? What is student-centered learning? Student-centered learning is an approach to pedagogy that puts the focus on the student rather than on the teacher.

It aims to Introducing Virtual Tours — What is a Virtual Tour and Why it Matters for Your School A virtual tour showcases different areas of any location through linked In recent months, GPT3 has moved out of the tech news sections and into the headlines.

But what is it exactly? How does it work and why has it become such a hot Is your school looking for ways to increase enrollment enquiries? Are you finding it difficult to stay ahead of changing school marketing trends and make sure your The pandemic caused most organisations to embrace some element of remote working, and for companies who have never been in a remote setting before, this may have What is an employee training plan?

A demo is the first step to transforming your business. Meet with us to develop a plan for attaining your goals.

The online magazine that helps you understand tomorrow's workforce trends, today. Founded in to deepen the understanding of the intersection of well-being, purpose, and performance. EN - US. For Business. Plus, creative problem solving looks excellent on a resume. As a leader or team member, your ability to think outside the box can ignite a spark of ingenuity that propels your team to new heights.

Fan the flames of growth and learn how to improve your creative thinking and highlight your new skills in your next job application.

Creative thinking is the dynamic process of transforming your ideas into actions. The skillset equips you to think differently and approach challenges from innovative angles. At its core, creative thinking empowers you to break free from the constraints of the status quo and dream up fresh, original ideas.

It breathes life into your decisions, encouraging you to embrace your imaginative instincts. By daring to challenge traditional approaches, your creativity opens doors to uncharted innovations and groundbreaking solutions.

Although creative and critical thinking are both used in problem-solving , the two skills are marked by key differences. Creative thinking is the catalyst for generating innovative ideas and crafting novel approaches to the challenges around them. With an open mind and a wild imagination, creative thinkers produce and explore unconventional solutions to the problems that stand in their way.

Critical thinking analyzes available information with an unbiased and rational approach. It involves questioning perceptions, ensuring that decisions are devoid of bias and reasoning remains grounded in sound judgment.

When you look at creative thinking as a set of particular abilities, it becomes easier to develop and perfect. These creative skill examples can help you thrive inside and outside of the workplace:. This openness also encourages you to freely share your creative ideas without fearing judgement.

Analyzing processes and asking yourself how you can improve them is an exciting way to make more efficient systems. There are numerous ways to solve a problem, and brainstorming helps to get them onto paper so you can weigh their pros and cons. This way of lateral thinking encourages you to view solutions as multifaceted rather than a single, straightforward answer.

Creative people experiment with various ways of solving a problem before deciding on the best way to take action. Emulate this mindset in your projects and tasks. For instance, if you work in web design, you might try several page layouts before deciding on a final visual identity for your client.

Speaking with people from different professional backgrounds is an excellent way to stimulate creative thinking and develop new perspectives. When you network with professionals with diverse skill sets and experiences, they might influence you to look at the world differently or suggest an innovative way to tackle a problem.

Observing how others tackle complex issues might inspire you to make changes within your team. Always keep an eye out for opportunities to learn from more experienced peers and innovative colleagues.

Although some individuals claim to thrive in clutter, keeping your work organized creates an environment where you can work freely without distraction.

This involves keeping your workspace tidy, creating clear to-do lists, and using visual maps to express your plans and processes. Proper communication empowers you to share valuable insight and ideas with your teammates.

Before you can dream up a creative approach to an obstacle, you must fully understand the problem at hand.

Without proper analysis, your solution may contain flaws, or you could miss important details of your problem.

Practice sifting through every detail of the issue and pinpointing the causes. No matter your industry, problem-solving is always a valuable skill.

Consider how to tackle a problem without asking the advice of others to see what creative solutions arise. This way, you can see what inventive ideas you can come up with before external opinions influence you.

Here are seven ways to advance your innovative problem-solving:. Reading is an effective way to exercise your mind, increase your vocabulary, and expose yourself to new ways of thinking. Keep a notepad nearby and write down thoughts and ideas as they arise.

Writing helps you to process information, and you can revisit your musing whenever you need to get your creative juices flowing. Exercising improves your sleep and ability to cope with stress, making it easier to stay alert and contribute fresh ideas at work.

Music can affect your mood and place you in the mindset to solve problems. Collaboration and teamwork are key when developing creative solutions in the workplace. You can ask teammates or superiors for feedback on your ideas to gain insight into potential flaws in your reasoning and streamline your solutions.

Having an experienced person to bounce ideas off is a catalyst for creativity.